Is Applying CBD Topically Better?

Are you a fan of CBD? Can you use CBD topically? Herein is about applying CBD topically including; using CBD, CBD topicals, and methods of taking CBD.

There is an increase in its manufacture and use. Manufacturers in health and wellness and those in the beauty industry consistently incorporate CBD into their products. Users find new ways of adding CBD into their routine. The increasing popularity can be linked to the numerous purported benefits of the compound. As the research on the same is ongoing, you may wonder whether applying it topically is the secret that surpasses all the other ways. Read on to get the answer and much more.

How to Use CBD

CBD is a versatile product. Similarly, you can get it in a variety of forms in which you can use it. You can always choose the form to buy depending on your need. For instance, if you want to get the effects instantly, you can go for CBD vape oil which you can inhale and get the effects almost on the spot. Also, you can place CBD oil under your tongue, let it rest for a short while, then swallow it and allow it to get absorbed into your system. You may decide to add CBD oil to your coffee or tea in the morning, smoothie, or cocktail, or use it as an ingredient for your favorite dish or when baking.

CBD tincture can come in handy if you want to relieve stress or anxiety at night. Still, if you have a topical issue you want to address, e.g., pain on your skin, you can apply a portion of CBD oil to the affected area topically and get the benefits.

Therefore, topically and orally are the two most common ways of taking CBD. There are different methods you can use to apply CBD oil topically. They work depending on your needs and the specific use you want the CBD to address. Choose if you want to go for the topical application of CBD or take it orally. Let us consider each, so you find it easy to choose the right method for both you and your needs.

CBD Topicals; What Are They?

Best (2022) stated that CBD topicals address physical issues in your body. The study above also showed that CBD topicals aid in soothing pain, reducing discomfort, and relieving inflammation. You can apply them topically to the affected area. Also, you can buy CBD topicals in serums, creams, balm, and lotions. There are topical CBD roll-ons and bath bombs to try. Liu (2019) suggested that you can infuse CBD into your favorite topical oil and get the benefits.

The beauty of CBD topicals is that the CBD in them gets absorbed into your skin and interacts with the cannabinoid receptors. Pawlaczyck et al. (2021) suggested that CBD can help protect your skin against daily exposure to harsh environmental elements and UV rays. Others contain ingredients that help moisturize dry skin and help improve the overall appearance of your skin.

Therefore, CBD topicals are great for external wellness and skincare routine. However, CBD may not be used topically, bringing internal wellness. Below is the other option of CBD for internal wellness.

CBD Orals; What Are They?

CBD orals are CBD products taken through the mouth or orally. They are specifically for cognitive needs and include oil tinctures, capsules, soft gels, and gummies. Interestingly, there are two main ways through which you can take CBD orals;

Sublingually

The most common way to take CBD sublingually is to place it under your tongue. When you have a drop of CBD oil tincture, you can place it under your tongue, leave it for around a minute then swallow. It will be absorbed directly through the capillaries in your mouth, onto your bloodstream, and then to the cannabinoid receptors. The good thing with this method is that it has high bioavailability; the CBD gets straight into your bloodstream.

Ingestion

This method involves consuming CBD orals through the mouth. You will have to swallow it through your mouth directly. Here the CBD first gets digested and then gets metabolized in the liver, after which the remaining part of the compound gets to your bloodstream. This, therefore, reduces its bioavailability percentage. Besides the reduced bioavailability, another disadvantage of taking CBD through this method is that the effects last longer than any other method.

Is Applying CBD Topically Better?

You may consider applying it topically if you want to get the benefits of CBD directly in the affected area. Moreover, if you want a quick and easy way of getting CBD onto your skin, this is a sure bet. The results from the topical application are more focused on a single affected area. Also, it does not have to get through your whole body to experience the effects.

Price (2022) revealed that topical application of CBD allows you to do a patch test so you can determine how the CBD reacts with your body. The study above showed that it allows you to see if it is sensitive to it, such that you can use the results to determine whether to stop, increase or reduce the dosage you are using.

Another advantage of applying CBD topically has to do with bioavailability. Bioavailability refers to the body's absorption of CBD into your bloodstream. Aebersol et al. (2021) suggested that applying  CBD topically results in low bioavailability. Your skin's permeability does not allow the CBD to get to your bloodstream regardless of the amount of CBD you apply.

Consider if lack of high bioavailability renders topical application of CBD ineffective. The topicals get absorbed into the affected area of your skin. Also, how you take CBD depends on your need and use.

Conclusion

There are two main forms through which you can get CBD products; topicals or orals. The topicals include lotion, creams, balm, and serums, whereas the orals include oil tinctures, gummies, pills, capsules, and other edibles. You can take the orals sublingually or ingest them. You can apply the topicals directly to the affected area. The decision on whether to go for the topical CBD or the orals largely depends on the need and use of the CBD. Therefore, be keen to determine what you need CBD for before you pick a better option over the other.

References

Aebersold, A., Duff, M., Sloan, L., & Song, Z. H. (2021). Cannabidiol Signaling In The Eye And Its Potential As An Ocular Therapeutic Agent. Cellular Physiology And Biochemistry: International Journal Of Experimental Cellular Physiology, Biochemistry, And Pharmacology, 55(Suppl 5), 1.

Liu, T. (2019). What Is CBD Oil? Learn The Facts: Uses, Benefits, And Side Effects.

Price, S. L. Best CBD Creams For Pain Relief: Top Hemp Topicals Review (2022).

Zimniewska, M., Pawlaczyk, M., Romanowska, B., Gryszczyńska, A., Kwiatkowska, E., & Przybylska, P. (2021). Bioactive Hemp Clothing Modified With Cannabidiol (CBD) Cannabis Sativa L. Extract. Materials, 14(20), 6031.